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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

OR

[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     .
Commission file number 0-17942

IEA INCOME FUND VIII,

A California Limited Partnership
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
California   94-3046886
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)    

One Front Street, Suite 925, San Francisco, California 94111
(Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (415) 677-8990

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     
  Name of each exchange on
Title of each class   which registered

 
 
 
Not Applicable    
   
 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

UNITS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS


(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] . No [   ].

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes [   ] . No [X] .

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant is not applicable.

Documents incorporated by Reference

      Prospectus of IEA Income Fund VIII, A California Limited Partnership dated October 13, 1987 included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-16984)

 


Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND VIII

Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year
Ended December 31, 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         
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 EXHIBIT 31.1
 EXHIBIT 31.2
 EXHIBIT 32

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PART I

Item 1. Business

(a)   General Development of Business

     The Registrant is a California limited partnership formed on August 31, 1987 to engage in the business of leasing marine dry cargo containers to unaffiliated third-party lessees. The Registrant was initially capitalized with $100, and commenced offering its limited partnership interests to the public during the week of October 13, 1987, pursuant to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-16984). The offering terminated on August 31, 1988.

     The Registrant raised $10,746,600 in subscription proceeds. The following table sets forth the use of said subscription proceeds:

                 
            Percentage of
    Amount
  Gross Proceeds
Gross Subscription Proceeds
  $ 10,746,600       100.0 %
Public Offering Expenses:
               
Underwriting Commissions
  $ 1,074,650       10.0 %
Offering and Organization Expenses
  $ 386,635       3.6 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Public Offering Expenses
  $ 1,461,285       13.6 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net Proceeds
  $ 9,285,315       86.4 %
Acquisition Fees
  $ 91,234       0.8 %
Working Capital Reserve
  $ 70,671       0.7 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Gross Proceeds Invested in Equipment
  $ 9,123,410       84.9 %
 
   
 
     
 
 

     The general partner of the Registrant is Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cronos Holdings/Investments (U.S.), Inc., a Delaware corporation. These and other affiliated companies are ultimately wholly-owned by The Cronos Group, a holding company registered in Luxembourg (the “Parent Company”) and are collectively referred to as the “Group.” The activities of the container division of the Group are managed through the Group’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom, Cronos Containers Limited (the “Leasing Company”). The Leasing Company manages the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Group on its own behalf or on behalf of other third-party container owners, including all programs organized by CCC.

     Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, all authority to administer the business of the Registrant is vested in CCC. A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between CCC and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has assumed the responsibility for the container leasing activities of CCC’s managed programs.

     For a discussion of recent developments in the Registrant’s business, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations.”

     For information concerning the containers acquired by the Registrant, see Item 2, “Properties.”

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  (b)   Financial Information About Segments

     An operating segment is a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and about which separate financial information is available. The Leasing Company’s management operates the Registrant’s container fleet as a homogenous unit and has determined that as such it has a single reportable operating segment.

     Due to the Registrant’s lack of information regarding the physical location of its fleet of containers when on lease in the global shipping trade, it is impracticable to provide the geographic area information. Any attempt to separate “foreign” operations from “domestic” operations would be dependent on definitions and assumptions that are so subjective as to render the information meaningless and potentially misleading. Accordingly, the Registrant believes that it does not possess discernible geographic reporting segments as defined in SFAS No. 131 (“SFAS 131”), “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”.

     Two sub-lessees of the Leasing Company each generated more than 10% of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant during 2003. Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (“MSC”) generated approximately 32% or $86,184 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant, and APL Company Pte. Ltd. (“APL”) generated approximately 16% or $42,915 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant during 2003. One sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, MSC, contributed approximately 16% or $106,161, and 15% or 160,042 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant during 2002 and 2001, respectively. MSC is a private company located in Switzerland and is ranked as the second largest container liner operator in the world. APL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines.

     (c)   Narrative Description of Business

     (c)(1)(i) A marine cargo container is a reusable metal container designed for the efficient carriage of cargo with a minimum of exposure to loss from damage or theft. Containers are manufactured to conform to worldwide standards of container dimensions and containership fittings adopted by the International Standards Organization (“ISO”) in 1968. The standard container is either 20' long x 8' wide x 8'6" high (one twenty-foot equivalent unit (“TEU”), the standard unit of physical measurement in the container industry) or 40' long x 8' wide x 8'6" high (two TEU). Standardization of the construction, maintenance and handling of containers allows containers to be picked up, dropped off, stored and repaired efficiently throughout the world. This standardization is the foundation on which the container industry has developed.

     Standard dry cargo containers are rectangular boxes with no moving parts, other than doors, and are typically made of steel. They are constructed to carry a wide variety of cargoes ranging from heavy industrial raw materials to light-weight finished goods. Specialized containers such as refrigerated and tank containers are utilized for the transport of temperature-sensitive goods and for the carriage of liquid cargo. Cellular palletwide containers (“CPCs”) provide shipping lines with a container with extra width for the carriage of unitized or palletized cargoes.

     One of the primary benefits of containerization has been the ability of the shipping industry to effectively lower freight rates due to the efficiencies created by standardized intermodal containers. Containers can be handled much more efficiently than loose cargo and are typically shipped via several modes of transportation, including truck, rail and ship. Containers require loading and unloading only once and remain sealed until arrival at the final destination, significantly reducing transport time, labor and handling costs and losses due to damage and theft. Efficient movement of containerized cargo between ship and shore reduces the amount of time that a ship must spend in port.

     The logistical advantages and reduced freight rates brought about by containerization have been major catalysts for world trade growth since the late 1960’s, resulting in an increased demand for containers. The world’s container fleet has grown from an estimated 270,000 TEU in 1969 to approximately 17 million TEU by the end of 2003.

     The container leasing business is cyclical, and depends largely upon the rate of growth in the volume of world trade.

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     Benefits of Leasing

     The container fleets of leasing companies represent approximately 46% of the world’s container fleet with the balance owned predominantly by shipping lines. Shipping lines, which traditionally operate on tight profit margins, often supplement their owned fleet of containers by leasing a portion of their equipment from container leasing companies and, in doing so, achieve the following financial and operational benefits:

    Leasing allows the shipping lines to utilize the equipment they need without having to make large capital expenditures;
 
    Leasing offers a shipping line an alternative source of financing in a traditionally capital-intensive industry;
 
    Leasing enables shipping lines to expand their routes and market shares at a relatively low cost without making a permanent commitment to support their new structure;
 
    Leasing allows shipping lines to respond to changing seasonal and trade route demands, thereby optimizing their capital investment and storage costs.

     Types of Leases

     On behalf of the Registrant, the Leasing Company leases the Registrant’s containers primarily to shipping lines operating in major trade routes (see Item 1(d)). Most if not all of the Registrant’s marine dry cargo containers are leased pursuant to operating leases, whereby the containers are leased to the ocean carrier on a daily basis for any desired length of time, with the flexibility of picking up and dropping off containers at various agreed upon locations around the world. Some of the Registrant’s containers may be leased pursuant to term leases, which may have durations of one to five years. Specialized containers are generally leased on longer-term leases because the higher cost, value and complexity of this equipment makes it more expensive to redeliver and lease out.

    Master lease. Master leases are leases under which a customer may lease a certain number of containers, as needed, under a general agreement between the lessor and the lessee. Such leases provide customers with greater flexibility by allowing customers to pick up and drop off containers where and when needed, subject to restrictions and availability, on pre-agreed terms. Master leases also define the number of containers that may be returned within each calendar month, the return locations and applicable drop-off charges. Due to the increased flexibility they offer, master leases usually command higher per-diem rates and generate more ancillary revenue (including pick-up, drop-off, handling and off-hire fees) than term leases. Ocean carriers generally use one-way leases to manage trade imbalances (where more containerized cargo moves in one direction than another) by picking up a container in one port and dropping it off at another location after one or more legs of a voyage. The commercial terms of master leases are usually negotiated annually.
 
    Term lease. Term leases are for a fixed period of time and include both long and short-term commitments, typically varying from three to five years. Term lease agreements may contain early termination penalties that apply in the event of early redelivery. In most cases, however, equipment cannot be returned prior to the expiration of the lease. Term leases provide greater revenue stability to the lessor, but at lower lease rates than master leases. Ocean carriers use term leases to lower their operating costs when they have a need for identified containers for a specified term. They differ from master leases in that they define the number of containers to be leased and the lease term.

     The percentage of equipment on term leases as compared to master leases varies widely among leasing companies, depending upon each company’s leasing strategy regarding profit margins, operating costs and cash flows.

     Lease rates depend on several factors including a customer’s financial strength, type of lease, length of term, type and age of the equipment, equipment replacement costs, interest rates, maintenance provided, and market conditions.

     The terms and conditions of the Leasing Company’s leases provide that customers are responsible for paying all taxes and service charges arising from container use, maintaining the containers in good and safe operating condition while on lease and paying for repairs, excluding ordinary wear and tear, upon redelivery. Some leases provide for a “damage protection plan” whereby lessees, for an additional payment (which may be in the form of a higher per-diem rate), are relieved of the responsibility of paying some of the repair costs upon redelivery of the containers. The Leasing Company

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provides this service to selected customers. Repairs provided under such plans are carried out by the same depots, under the same procedures, as are repairs to containers not covered by such plans. Customers also are required to insure leased containers against physical damage and loss, and against third party liability for loss, damage, bodily injury or death.

     Customers

     The Registrant is not dependent upon any particular sub-lessee or group of sub-lessees of the Leasing Company. Two sub-lessees of the Leasing Company each accounted for more than 10% of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant. MSC generated approximately 32% or $86,184 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned during 2003 on behalf of the Registrant, and APL generated approximately 16% or $42,915 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned during 2003 on behalf of the Registrant. The majority of the Leasing Company’s customers are billed and pay in United States dollars.

     The Leasing Company sets maximum credit limits for the Registrant’s customers, limiting the number of containers leased to each according to established credit criteria. The Leasing Company continually tracks its credit exposure to each customer. The Leasing Company’s credit committee meets quarterly to analyze the performance of the Registrant’s customers and to recommend actions to be taken in order to minimize credit risks. The Leasing Company uses specialist third party credit information services and reports prepared by local staff to assess credit applications.

     The Registrant may be subject to unexpected loss in rental revenue from sub-lessees of its containers that default under their container lease agreements with the Leasing Company. The Registrant and Leasing Company maintain insurance against loss or damage to the containers, loss of lease revenue in certain cases and costs of container recovery and repair in the event that a customer declares bankruptcy.

     Fleet Profile

     The Registrant acquired high-quality dry cargo containers manufactured to specifications that exceed ISO standards and are designed to minimize repair and operating costs.

     Dry cargo containers are the most commonly used type of container in the shipping industry. The Registrant’s dry cargo container fleet is constructed of all Corten steel (i.e., Corten roofs, walls, doors and undercarriage), which is a high-tensile steel yielding greater strength, damage and corrosion resistance than mild steel.

     As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant owned 482 twenty-foot and 454 forty-foot and 28 forty-foot high-cube dry cargo containers. The following table sets forth the number of containers on lease, by container type and lease type as of December 31, 2003:

         
    Number of
    Containers on Lease
20-Foot Dry Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    342  
Master Leases
    121  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    463  
 
   
 
 
40-Foot Dry Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    314  
Master Leases
    93  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    407  
 
   
 
 
40-Foot High-Cube Dry Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    8  
Master Leases
    15  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    23  
 
   
 
 

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     The Leasing Company makes payments to the Registrant based upon rentals collected from customers after deducting certain operating expenses associated with the containers, such as the base management and incentive fees payable to the Leasing Company, certain expense reimbursements payable to CCC and the Leasing Company, the costs of maintenance and repairs not performed by lessees, independent agent fees and expenses, depot expenses for handling, inspection and storage, and additional insurance.

     Repair and Maintenance

     All containers are inspected and repaired when redelivered by customers who are obligated to pay for all damage repair, excluding wear and tear, according to standardized industry guidelines. Some customers are relieved of the responsibility of paying some repair costs upon redelivery of containers, as described under “Description of Business – Lease Profile.” Depots in major port areas perform repair and maintenance that is verified by either independent surveyors or the Leasing Company’s technical and operations staff.

     Before any repair or refurbishment is authorized on older containers in the Registrant’s fleet, the Leasing Company’s technical and operations staff reviews the age, condition and type of container, and its suitability for continued leasing. The Leasing Company compares the cost of such repair or refurbishment with the prevailing market resale price that might be obtained for that container and makes the appropriate decision whether to repair or sell the container. The Leasing Company is authorized to make this decision on behalf of the Registrant and makes this decision by applying the same standards to the Registrant’s containers as to its own containers.

     Disposition of Used Containers

     The Leasing Company estimates that the period for which a container may be used by the Registrant as a leased marine cargo container ranges from 12 to 15 years. On behalf of the Registrant, the Leasing Company disposes of used containers in a worldwide market in which buyers include wholesalers, mini-storage operations, construction companies and others. The market for used containers generally depends on new container prices, the quantity of containers targeted for disposal and the overall lease market for containers at a particular location. As the Registrant’s fleet ages, a larger proportion of its revenue and cash flow may be derived from selling its containers.

     Operations

     The Registrant’s sales and marketing operations are conducted through the Leasing Company in the United Kingdom, with support provided by area offices and dedicated agents located in San Francisco; New Jersey; Antwerp; Genoa; Gothenburg; Hamburg; Singapore; Hong Kong; Sydney; Tokyo; Taipei; Seoul; Rio de Janeiro; Shanghai and Madras.

     The Leasing Company also maintains agency relationships with approximately 20 independent agents around the world, who are generally paid a commission based upon the amount of revenues generated in the region or the number of containers that are leased from their area on behalf of the Registrant. The agents are located in jurisdictions where the volume of the Leasing Company’s business necessitates a presence in the area but is not sufficient to justify a fully-functioning Leasing Company office or dedicated agent. Agents provide marketing support to the area offices covering the region, together with limited operational support.

     In addition, the Leasing Company relies on the services of approximately 300 independently-owned and operated depots around the world to inspect, repair, maintain and store containers while off-hire. The Leasing Company’s area offices authorize all container movements into and out of the depot and supervise all repairs and maintenance performed by the depot. The Leasing Company’s technical staff sets the standards for repair of its owned and managed fleet throughout the world and monitors the quality of depot repair work. The depots provide a vital link to the Leasing Company’s operations, as the redelivery of a container into a depot is the point at which the container is off-hired from one customer and repaired in preparation for re-leasing to the next customer.

     The Leasing Company’s global network is integrated with its computer system and provides 24-hour communication between offices, agents and depots. The system allows the Leasing Company to manage and control the Registrant’s fleet on a global basis, providing it with the responsiveness and flexibility necessary to service the master lease market effectively. This system is an integral part of the Leasing Company’s service, as it processes information received from the various offices, generates billings to the Leasing Company’s lessees and produces a wide range of reports on all aspects of the Leasing Company’s leasing activities. The system records the life history of each container, including the length of time on and off-hire, repair costs, as well as port activity trends, leasing activity and equipment data per

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customer. The operations and marketing data is fully interfaced with the finance and accounting system to provide revenue, cost and asset information to management and staff around the world.

     In recent years, the Leasing Company and other lessors have developed certain internet-based applications. For the Leasing Company, these applications allow customers access to make on-line product inquiries. The Leasing Company is continuing to develop its internet-based business and will introduce other internet options as suitable applications are identified.

     Insurance

     The Leasing Company’s lease agreements typically require lessees to obtain insurance to cover all risks of physical damage and loss of the equipment under lease, as well as public liability and property damage insurance. However, the precise nature and amount of the insurance carried by each ocean carrier varies from lessee to lessee. In addition, the Registrant has purchased secondary insurance effective in the event that a lessee fails to have adequate primary coverage. This insurance covers liability arising out of bodily injury and/or property damage as a result of the ownership and operation of the containers, as well as insurance against loss or damage to the containers, loss of lease revenue in certain cases and cost of container recovery and repair in the event that a customer goes into bankruptcy. The Registrant believes that the nature and the amounts of its insurance are customary in the container leasing industry and subject to standard industry deductions and exclusions.

     (c)(1)(ii) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(iii) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(iv) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(v) The Registrant’s containers are leased globally; therefore, seasonal fluctuations are minimal. Other economic and business factors to which the transportation industry in general and the container leasing industry in particular are subject, include fluctuations in general business conditions and fluctuations in supply and demand for equipment resulting from, among other things, obsolescence, changes in the methods or economics of a particular mode of transportation or changes in governmental regulations or safety standards.

     (c)(1)(vi) The Registrant established an initial working capital reserve of approximately $71,000 (approximately 0.7% of subscription proceeds raised). In addition, the Registrant may reserve additional amounts from anticipated cash distributions to the partners to meet working capital requirements. Accordingly, the Registrant has reserved an additional $45,000 as part of its working capital for expenses related to its final liquidation and subsequent dissolution.

     Amounts due under master leases are calculated at the end of each month and billed approximately six to eight days thereafter. Amounts due under short-term and long-term leases are set forth in the respective lease agreements and are generally payable monthly. However, payment is normally received within 45-100 days of billing. Past due penalties are not customarily collected from lessees and, accordingly, are not generally levied by the Leasing Company against lessees of the Registrant’s containers.

     (c)(1)(vii) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, one sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, MSC, accounted for approximately 32% or $86,184 of the Registrant’s rental income, and APL, another sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, accounted for approximately 16% or $42,915 of the Registrant’s rental income. The Registrant does not believe that its ongoing business is dependent upon a single customer, although the loss of one or more of its largest customers could have an adverse effect upon its business.

     (c)(1)(viii) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(ix) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(x) Competition among container leasing companies is based upon several factors, including the location and availability of inventory, lease rates, the type, quality and condition of the containers, the quality and flexibility of the service offered and the professional relationship between the customer and the lessor. Other factors include the speed with which a leasing company can prepare its containers for lease and the ease with which a lessee believes it can do business with a lessor or its local area office. Not all container leasing companies compete in the same market, as some

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supply only dry cargo containers and not specialized containers. In addition to dry cargo containers, refrigerated containers and tanks, the Leasing Company supplies a wide range of dry freight special containers.

     The Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, competes with various container leasing companies in the markets in which it conducts business. Mergers and acquisitions have been a feature of the container leasing industry for over a decade and the leasing market is essentially comprised of three broad groups: the very large companies (in TEU terms), GESeaCo, Textainer Group, Transamerica Leasing, Triton Container International Ltd. and Interpool Inc., which between them, with fleets of around 1 million TEU each in mid-2002, control approximately 70% of the total leased fleet; a middle tier of companies, which includes Cronos, possessing fleets in the 200,000 to 500,000 TEU range; and the smaller more specialized fleet operators. Ocean carriers have a tendency to support a number of lessors simultaneously in order to maximize competition and increase the number of available locations for redelivery of containers. Economies of scale, worldwide operations, diversity, size of fleet and financial strength are increasingly important to the successful operation of a container leasing business. Additionally, as containerization continues to grow, and regions such as China, South America and the Indian sub-continent generate an increasing volume of containerized cargo, customers may demand more flexibility from leasing companies particularly regarding the structure of leases, per-diem rates, pick-up and drop-off locations, and the availability of containers.

     Some of the Leasing Company’s competitors have greater financial resources than the Leasing Company and may be more capable of offering lower per-diem rates on a larger fleet. In the Leasing Company’s experience, however, ocean carriers will generally lease containers from more than one leasing company in order to minimize dependence on a single supplier. Furthermore, by having as many suppliers as possible, the carrier is able to maximize the number of off-hires and off-hire locations available, as typically each supplier may limit the number of containers that can be off-hired by location. The advantage to the carrier is that this prevents the carrier from being burdened with an excess number of off-hired containers, which incur both storage and per-diem charges, in a low demand market.

     (c)(1)(xi) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(xii) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(xiii) The Registrant, as a limited partnership, is managed by CCC, the general partner, and accordingly does not itself have any employees. At February 29, 2004, CCC had 11 employees, consisting of 3 officers, 5 other managers and 3 clerical and staff personnel and the Leasing Company had 30 employees, consisting of 2 officers, 13 other managers, and 15 clerical and staff personnel.

     (d) Financial Information About Geographic Areas

     The Registrant’s business is not divided between foreign or domestic operations. The Registrant’s business is the leasing of containers worldwide to ocean carriers. To this extent, the Registrant’s operations are subject to the fluctuations of world economic and political conditions. Such factors may affect the pattern and levels of world trade.

     The Registrant believes that the profitability of, and risks associated with, leases to foreign customers is generally the same as those of leases to domestic customers. The Registrant’s leases generally require all payments to be made in United States currency.

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Item 2. Properties

     As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant owned 482 twenty-foot, 454 forty-foot and 28 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers suitable for transporting cargo by rail, sea or highway. The average age, manufacturers’ invoice cost and estimated useful life of the Registrant’s containers as of December 31, 2003 were as follows:

                 
    Estimated        
    Useful Life
  Average Age
  Average Cost
20-Foot Dry Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   14 years   $ 2,585  
40-Foot Dry Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   16 years   $ 2,823  
40-Foot High-Cube Dry Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   15 years   $ 4,211  

     All but 250 twenty-foot and 1,145 forty-foot containers were originally acquired from container manufacturers located in Korea and India. Pursuant to undertakings made in Sections 4.3 and 7.2(j) of the Partnership Agreement in the Registration Statement (No. 33-16984), the Registrant purchased a total of 250 twenty-foot and 1,145 forty-foot marine dry cargo containers from CCC in 1988-1992. These containers were originally purchased by CCC from two manufacturers in Korea in 1987 and 1992.

     Utilization by lessees of the Registrant’s containers fluctuates over time depending on the supply of and demand for containers in the Registrant’s inventory locations. During 2003, utilization of the Registrant’s containers averaged 86%.

     During 2003, the Registrant disposed of 105 twenty-foot, 102 forty-foot and 5 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers at an average net gain on disposal of $220 per container.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

     Inapplicable.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     Inapplicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

     (a) Market Information

     (a)(1)(i) The Registrant’s outstanding units of limited partnership interests are not traded on any market nor does an established public trading market exist for such purposes.

     (a)(1)(ii) Inapplicable.

     (a)(1)(iii) Inapplicable.

     (a)(1)(iv) Inapplicable.

     (a)(1)(v) Inapplicable.

     (a)(2) Inapplicable.

     (b) Holders

             
      Number of Unit Holders
(b)(1)
  Title of Class   as of December 31, 2003
 
 
 
 
  Units of limited partnership interests     1,236  

     (c) Dividends

     Inapplicable. For the distributions made by the Registrant to its limited partners, see Item 6, “Selected Financial Data.”

     (d) Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

     Inapplicable.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

                                         
    Year Ended December 31,
    2003
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
Net lease revenue
  $ 154,332     $ 193,691     $ 396,179     $ 583,863     $ 612,445  
Net income (loss)
  $ 26,978     $ (200,404 )   $ 20,826     $ 311,860     $ 135,810  
Net (loss) income per unit of limited partnership interest
  $ (.90 )   $ (9.23 )   $ (4.34 )   $ 8.27     $ 5.80  
Cash distributions per unit of limited partnership interest
  $ 9.06     $ 23.13     $ 46.56     $ 46.88     $ 66.49  
At year-end:
                                       
Total assets
  $ 793,360     $ 985,513     $ 1,745,076     $ 2,850,126     $ 3,671,695  
Partners’ capital
  $ 793,360     $ 985,513     $ 1,745,076     $ 2,850,126     $ 3,671,695  

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     The following discussion of the Registrant’s historical financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

     The information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities law. These forward-looking statements reflect the current view of the Registrant and CCC, with respect to future events and financial performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Registrant and CCC. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Report, including statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” regarding the Registrant’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of the Registrant are forward-looking statements.

     All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report. The Registrant does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although the Registrant and CCC believe that their plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements made in this report are reasonable, the Registrant and CCC can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Future economic, political and industry trends that could potentially impact revenues and profitability are difficult to predict, as well as the risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in demand for leased containers, changes in global business conditions and their effect on world trade, changes within the global shipping industry, the financial strength of the shipping lines and other sub-lessees of the Registrant’s containers, fluctuations in new container prices, changes in the costs of maintaining and repairing used containers, changes in competition, changes in the ability of the Leasing Company to maintain insurance on behalf of the Registrant’s container fleet, as well as other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the Registrant’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     During the Registrant’s first 10 years of operations, the Registrant’s primary objective was to generate cash flow from operations for distribution to its limited partners. Aside from the initial working capital reserve retained from the gross subscription proceeds (equal to approximately .7% of such proceeds), the Registrant relied primarily on container rental receipts to meet this objective as well as to finance current operating needs. No credit lines are maintained to finance working capital. Commencing in 1998, the Registrant’s 11th year of operations, the Registrant began focusing its attention on the disposition of its fleet in accordance with another of its original investment objectives, realizing the residual value of its containers after the expiration of their economic useful lives, estimated to be between 12 to 15 years after placement in leased service. Since that time, the Registrant has been actively disposing of its fleet, while cash proceeds from

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equipment disposals, in addition to cash from operations, have provided the cash flow for distributions to the limited partners. The decision to dispose of containers is influenced by various factors including age, condition, suitability for continued leasing as well as the geographical location when disposed. Although the Registrant’s fleet size has been reduced to approximately 20% of its original fleet size, CCC has made the decision to continue the Registrant’s leasing operations and to capitalize on the current, favorable market conditions. Within the next twenty-four months, the Registrant is expected to enter the final phase of its liquidation and wind-up stage of operations by disposing of its remaining fleet and focusing on the collection of its lease receivables, a component of net lease receivables. The Registrant will thereafter undertake a final distribution to its partners, then cancel the Certificate of Limited Partnership, thus terminating and dissolving the Partnership.

     Cash distributions from operations were originally allocated 5% to the general partner and 95% to the limited partners. Distributions of sales proceeds were allocated 100% to the limited partners. In 1994, pursuant to Section 6.1(b) and (c) of the Partnership Agreement, the allocation of distributions from operations among the general partner and limited partners was adjusted to 10% and 90%, respectively. The allocation of distributions of cash from sales proceeds among the general partner and limited partners remained unchanged. This sharing arrangement remained in place until the second quarter of 1997, at which time the limited partners had received from the Registrant aggregate distributions in an amount equal to their adjusted capital contributions plus a 10% cumulative compounded daily annual return on their adjusted capital contributions. Thereafter, all distributions were allocated 20% to the general partner and 80% to the limited partners, pursuant to Sections 6.1(b) and (c) of the Registrant’s Partnership Agreement. Cash distributions from operations to the general partner in excess of 10% of distributable cash are considered an incentive fee and compensation to CCC.

     From inception through February 28, 2004, the Registrant has distributed, on a cash basis, $20,155,088 in cash from operations and $3,625,301 in cash from container sales proceeds to its limited partners. This represents total cash basis distributions of $23,780,389, or approximately 221% of the limited partners’ original invested capital. Distributions to the partners are determined and paid quarterly, based primarily on each quarter’s cash flow from operations and cash generated from container sales. Quarterly distributions are also affected by periodic increases or decreases to working capital reserves, as deemed appropriate by the general partner. Sales proceeds distributed to its partners may fluctuate in subsequent periods, reflecting the level of container disposals. During the period October 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, the Registrant suspended distributions to increase its working capital for expenses related to its final liquidation and subsequent dissolution. At December, 31, 2003, the Registrant had an additional $60,000 as part of its working capital for expenses related to its final liquidation and subsequent dissolution.

     At December 31, 2003, the Registrant had $293,068 in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $32,400 and $35,246, respectively, from the cash balances at December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001. The Registrant invests its working capital, as well as cash flows from operations and the sale of containers that have not yet been distributed to CCC or its limited partners in money market funds.

     Cash from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities, primarily generated from the billing and collection of net lease revenue, was $82,743 during 2003, compared to $155,024 during 2002.

     Cash from Investing Activities: Net cash provided by investing activities was $168,789 and $336,488 in 2003 and 2002, respectively. These amounts represent sales proceeds generated from the sale of container equipment.

     Cash from Financing Activities: Net cash used in financing activities was $219,131 during 2003 compared to $559,159 during 2002. These amounts represent distributions to the Registrant’s general and limited partners. The Registrant’s continuing container disposals, as well as current market conditions, should produce lower operating results, and consequently, lower distributions to its partners in subsequent periods.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     As part of the Registrant’s ongoing business, the Registrant does not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities (“SPEs”), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant was not involved in any material unconsolidated SPE transactions.

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Contractual Obligations

As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant did not have any contractual obligations or commercial commitments.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2002

     Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, all authority to administer the business of the Registrant is vested in CCC. A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between CCC and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Registrant. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing and re-leasing the Registrant’s containers to ocean carriers and has full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Registrant, together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing Company and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated without regard to ownership.

     The primary component of the Registrant’s results of operations is net lease revenue. Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses, management and incentive fees and reimbursed administrative expenses, from gross lease revenues billed by the Leasing Company from the leasing of the Registrant’s containers. Net lease revenue is directly related to the size, utilization and per-diem rental rates of the Registrant’s fleet. Direct operating expenses are direct costs associated with the Registrant’s containers. Direct operating expenses may be categorized as follows:

    Activity-related expenses include agents costs and depot costs such as repairs, maintenance and handling.
 
    Inventory-related expenses relate to off-hire containers and comprise storage and repositioning costs. These costs are sensitive to the quantity of off-hire containers as well as the frequency at which containers are re-delivered.
 
    Legal and other expenses include legal costs, insurance and provisions for doubtful accounts.

     At December 31, 2003, approximately 20% of the original equipment remained in the Registrant’s fleet, as compared to approximately 25% at December 31, 2002. The following chart summarizes the composition of the Registrant’s fleet (based on container type) at December 31, 2003.

                         
                    40-Foot
    20-Foot
  40-Foot
  High-Cube
Containers on lease:
                       
Term leases
    342       314       8  
Master leases
    121       93       15  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Subtotal
    463       407       23  
Containers off lease
    19       47       5  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total container fleet
    482       454       28  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
                                                 
                                    40-Foot
    20-Foot
  40-Foot
  High-Cube
    Units
  %
  Units
  %
  Units
  %
Total purchases
    2,244       100 %     2,396       100 %     150       100 %
Less disposals
    1,762       79 %     1,942       81 %     122       81 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Remaining fleet at December 31, 2003
    482       21 %     454       19 %     28       19 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

     Industry observers report that global container trade grew by an estimated 8% during 2003, contributing to favorable container leasing market conditions, including high levels of demand for existing containers and a decline in off-hire container inventories. As a result, the Registrant maintained a high level of utilization for its containers, with an average of 86% during 2003 as compared to 81% in both 2002 and 2001. The current leasing market contrasts sharply with container leasing market conditions experienced during 2001, when the demand for dry cargo containers was adversely affected by a slowdown in the global economy, contributing to lower utilization rates and higher container inventories throughout the world.

     The demand for leased containers by the global container shipping industry has contributed to reducing off-hire inventories primarily in Asia, and to a lesser extent in Europe and North America. In many parts of Asia and particularly

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in the southeastern ports, the demand for cargo containers continued to exceed available supplies. The preference by shipping lines to employ leased containers to meet their container requirements also contributed to the strong demand for leased containers during 2003. However, in response to a favorable shipping market, there are indications of an increased willingness by the shipping lines to purchase and finance the acquisition of new containers at higher levels in the near future, which may impact the demand for leased containers.

     Favorable shipping market conditions, combined with lower equipment cost, and short term leases for older containers, have also resulted in the shipping lines’ diminishing discrimination against leasing older containers, a condition that typically exists during periods of surplus container supply. The favorable 2003 shipping market, combined with the current shortfall of containers, has resulted in an increase in the production of new containers during 2003 to a level that is expected to surpass record levels of previous years. The level of new container investment in 2004 is forecasted to equal or exceed the record levels of 2003. The ultimate impact of the increase in new container production on the Registrant’s operations is not immediately known; however, an increase in new container availability may reduce the demand for the Registrant’s older containers.

     Despite the benefits from favorable market conditions generated by the growth in world trade and strong growth in trade volumes to and from China, the uncertainty over the financial strength of the shipping industry remains a concern. Shipping lines are faced with rising container imbalances in most major trade routes and rising operating costs associated with repositioning empty containers into high demand locations. In addition, freight rates, despite recent increases, remaining at levels lower than those achieved during previous years. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company believe these conditions favor the larger more established shipping lines, which have witnessed strong recoveries in their performance over the last few years. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company continue to remain cautious, as some shipping lines reported operating losses during 2002, while others became insolvent during 2003. The financial impact of such losses for these shipping lines may eventually influence the demand for leased containers as some shipping lines may experience additional financial difficulties, consolidate or become insolvent. Although the ultimate outcome, as well as its impact on the container leasing industry and the Registrant’s results of operations, is unknown, CCC, on behalf of the Registrant, will work closely with the Leasing Company to monitor outstanding receivables, collections, and credit exposure to various existing and new customers.

     Lastly, wide-ranging concerns remain regarding recovery of the world’s major economies, performance of global stock markets, geopolitical concerns arising from uncertainties within the Middle East and Asia, as well as the recent increase in new container production, all of which may temper the current demand for leased containers.

     The Registrant’s average fleet size and utilization rates for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were as follows:

                         
    2003
  2002
  2001
Fleet size (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU))
                       
Dry cargo containers
    1,615       2,048       2,750  
Average utilization rates
                       
Dry cargo containers
    86 %     81 %     81 %

     Since December 2001, the combined per-diem rental rate for the Registrant’s fleet of dry cargo containers declined by approximately 26%. This decline is attributable to four main factors:

    Per-diem rental rates decreased in correlation with the reduction in new container prices;
 
    The Leasing Company converted lease agreements with several shipping lines from master to long-term leases, providing greater revenue stability but at lower lease rates than those earned under master leases;
 
    The Leasing Company initiated new term leases for older equipment resulting in lower per-diem rates, while significantly reducing off-hire container inventory levels; and,
 
    Interest rates, which influence per-diem rental rates, declined throughout the world’s economies.

     The decline in the aforementioned per-diem rates contributed to a decline in gross lease revenue. However, higher utilization levels during the year contributed significantly to lower direct operating expenses due to the reduction in storage and other inventory-related expenses.

     Although per-diem rental rates have declined during the aforementioned period, an increase in new container prices, as well as an increase in demand for leased containers resulted in the stabilization of per-diem rental rates during 2003. A significant improvement in lease per-diem rates is not expected until new container prices increase to levels much higher than those experienced during 2003.

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     Net lease revenue was $154,332 for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to $193,691 for the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to a $105,859 decline in gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue) from the year ended December 31, 2002. Gross rental revenue was impacted by the Registrant’s smaller fleet size and a 13% decline in the average per-diem rental rates for 2003, partially offset by an increase in fleet utilization rates. Other components of net lease revenue, including rental equipment operating expenses, management and incentive fees, and reimbursed administrative expenses, were lower by a combined $66,500 when compared to 2002, and partially offset the decline in gross lease revenue. Contributing to the decline in direct operating expenses were declines in handling and storage costs, and the provision for doubtful accounts.

     Depreciation expense of $129,646 for 2003 declined by $206,828 when compared to 2002, a direct result of the Registrant’s aging and declining fleet size.

     Other general and administrative expenses amounted to $45,461 in 2003, a decrease of $1,133 or 2% when compared to 2002.

     Net gain (loss) on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant’s disposal of 212 containers in 2003, as compared to 449 containers during 2002. These disposals resulted in a net gain of $46,580 during 2003, compared to a net loss of $14,085 during 2002. Fewer containers were disposed during 2003 compared to 2002 due to the high demand for leased containers which reduced the number of containers available for disposal. The Registrant believes that the net gain on container disposals in 2003 was a result of various factors, including the Registrant’s declining fleet size, the age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as the geographical location of the containers when disposed. These factors will continue to influence the decision to repair or dispose of a container when it is returned by a lessee, as well as the amount of sales proceeds received and the related gain or loss on container disposals. The level of the Registrant’s container disposals in subsequent periods will also contribute to fluctuations in the net gain or loss on disposals. There were no reductions to the carrying value of container rental equipment during 2003, 2002 and 2001.

Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2001

     Net lease revenue of $193,691 for the year 2002 was $202,488 lower than the prior year. The decrease was due to a $291,091 decline in gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue). Gross rental revenue was impacted by the Registrant’s smaller fleet size and lower per-diem rental rates. Other components of net lease revenue, including management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses, were lower by a combined $88,603 when compared to the year 2001, and partially offset the decline in gross lease revenue. Contributing to the decline in direct operating expenses were declines in repositioning, handling and storage costs, partially offset by an increase in the provision for doubtful accounts.

     Depreciation expense of $336,474 in 2002 was $35,096 higher than 2001. Effective June 1, 2001, the Registrant changed the estimated life of its rental container equipment from an estimated 12 year life to a 15 year life, and its estimated salvage value from 30% to 10% of original equipment cost. The effect of these changes was an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $117,000 for the year 2002.

     Other general and administrative expenses were $46,593 in 2002, a decrease of $15,134 or 25% when compared to 2001. Contributing to this increase were professional fees and costs related to investor communications.

     Net (loss) gain on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 449 containers during 2002, as compared to 528 containers during 2001. These disposals resulted in a net loss of $14,085 for 2002 as compared to a net loss of $26,793 for 2001. The Registrant believes that the net loss on container disposals in 2002 was a result of various factors including the Registrant’s declining fleet size, the age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as the geographic location of the containers when disposed.

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Critical Accounting Policies

     Container equipment – depreciable lives: The Registrant’s dry cargo container rental equipment is depreciated over a useful life of 15 years to a residual value of 10%. The Registrant and CCC evaluates the period of amortization and residual values to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives and residual values.

     Container equipment – valuation: The Registrant and CCC review container rental equipment when changes in circumstances require consideration as to whether the carrying value of the equipment has become impaired, pursuant to guidance established in SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” The Registrant and CCC consider assets to be impaired if the carrying value of the asset exceeds the future projected cash flows from related operations (undiscounted and without interest charges). When impairment is deemed to exist, the assets are written down to fair value or projected discounted cash flows from related operations. The Registrant and CCC evaluate future cash flows and potential impairment of its fleet by container type rather than for each individual container. Therefore, future losses could result for individual container dispositions due to various factors including age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as geographic location of the containers where disposed. Considerable judgment is required in estimating future cash flows from container rental equipment operations. Accordingly, the estimates may not be indicative of the amounts that may be realized in future periods. As additional information becomes available in subsequent periods, reserves for the impairment of the container rental equipment carrying values may be necessary based upon changes in market and economic conditions.

     Allowance for doubtful accounts: The Leasing Company continually tracks the Registrant’s credit exposure to each of the sub-lessees of the Registrant’s containers using specialist third-party credit information services and reports prepared by its local staff to assess credit applications. The Leasing Company’s credit committee meets quarterly to analyze the performance of existing customers and to recommend actions taken in order to minimize credit risk. The Leasing Company derives an allowance for doubtful accounts from specific amounts provided against known probable losses plus an additional amount based on historical loss experience. However, the Registrant’s net lease revenue may be subject to unexpected loss resulting from sub-lessees of its containers that default under their container lease agreements with the Leasing Company.

New Accounting Pronouncements

     In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 45 (“FIN 45”), “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees it has issued. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on the Registrant’s results of operations and financial condition.

     In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Interpretation that clarified and modified FIN 46 (“Revised Interpretations”). FIN 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements (“ARB 51”), to certain variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The Registrant does not expect FIN 46 to have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

     In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity” (“SFAS 150”) . This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances). Many of those instruments were previously classified as equity. This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of SFAS 150 did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

Inflation

     The Registrant believes inflation has not had a material adverse affect on the results of its operations.

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Risk Factors That Could Affect Future Results

     Because of the following factors, as well as other variables affecting the Registrant’s operating results, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

     Dependence of the Container Leasing Business on the Volume of World Trade and Other Factors. Containers, particularly marine dry cargo containers, are relatively simple, and fungible, items of capital equipment. While one distinguishing characteristic of container leasing companies is the level of service they provide to lessees, fundamentally the success of the container leasing business depends upon the level of demand for leased containers. While there is continuing demand from customers to transport their cargo in containers rather than by breakbulk methods, this demand, in turn, largely depends upon levels of world trade and the supply of containers relative to demand. When the volume of world trade decreases, container leasing companies are particularly apt to suffer since container lessees, most of which also have their own fleets of containers, generally reduce the number of leased containers in their fleets in favor of utilizing their fleet of owned containers. In addition, average daily revenue per leased container unit can decrease significantly as the volume of world trade decreases and the supply of available containers exceeds the level of demand. Such factors can cause a material reduction in a leasing company’s revenues. Furthermore, the increased availability of capital combined with low interest rates may provide an incentive for shipping lines to reduce their demand for leased containers in favor of purchasing them. As a result, the Registrant’s container leasing operations could be negatively affected by future fluctuations in world trade and other factors, including, without limitation, the supply and pricing of new and used containers, economic conditions in the shipping industry, fluctuations in interest rates and currency valuations, and other economic considerations that are inherently unpredictable and beyond the control of the Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company.

     Risk of Terrorism Attack Involving Containers. Since September 11, 2001, the world’s governments, maritime authorities, and the maritime industry, have devoted increasing attention to enhancing the security of the global container transport chain. These efforts have included the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 passed by Congress, and initiatives by the United States such as the Container Security Initiative and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Program. Efforts to date have focused on increasing port security and container inspections, developing and implementing a program of sealing containers with mechanical and electronic seals from the point of loading to final delivery of the container, identifying shippers, storing cargo information in electronic format, and related measures. The task is immense, and the efforts undertaken to date are preliminary. The industry is well aware of the dire consequences should a terrorism incident occur involving the use of a cargo container. In any such event, the impact on global trade and the world economy could be immediate and materially adverse, specifically impacting the Registrant’s operations with high insurance costs, additional costs to implement or adopt container related security devices and measures, and ultimately, a loss of container leasing revenues.

     Other Risks of Container Leasing. In addition to the factors discussed above, the ability of the Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, to keep the Registrant’s containers under leases yielding revenues which, after payment of operating expenses, provide an acceptable return may be adversely affected by other economic and business factors to which the transportation industry in general and the container leasing industry in particular are subject. These factors, which generally are beyond the control of the Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company, include:

    general economic conditions, such as inflation and fluctuations in general business conditions;

    fluctuations in supply and demand for containers resulting from, among other things, obsolescence, changes in the methods or economics of a particular mode of transportation or changes in governmental regulations or safety standards;

    increases in maintenance expenses, taxes, insurance costs, third party fees and other expenses attributable to the operation and the maintenance of the containers that cannot be offset by increased lease revenues from the containers;

    the risk of uninsured losses with respect to the containers or insured losses for which insurance proceeds are inadequate, resulting in a possible loss of invested capital in and any profits anticipated from such containers;

    the effects of strikes, labor disputes and foreign political unrest on the Registrant’s container leasing business;

    bankruptcies, contract disputes, or defaults in payment by sub-lessees of the Registrant’s containers resulting in uncollectible amounts and the accumulation of expenses and off-lease time attributable to the recovery of containers, or the inability to recover containers from such lessees;

    the possibility that sub-lessees of the Registrant’s containers will elect to purchase and own equipment rather than lease it from third parties, including the Leasing Company; and loss of revenues and increases in storage expenses during periods when containers are not being utilized.

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     Effect of Operating Leases: Rental Payments are Insufficient to Return the Original Investment in the Containers. A preponderance of the containers acquired by the Registrant are leased pursuant to Operating Leases. Under an Operating Lease, the lessor receives aggregate rental payments in an amount that is insufficient to recover its original investment. In order for the Registrant to recover its investment and earn an adequate return thereon, the Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, will, on termination of the initial leases of the Registrant’s containers, have to obtain renewals from the original lessees, find new lessees or sell the containers. Operating Leases subject the Registrant to risks of fluctuation in rental rates and lack of demand for a particular container at the expiration of its lease. The success of the Leasing Company in leasing the Registrant’s containers and keeping the Registrant’s containers on lease will depend upon market conditions in the container and equipment leasing markets, the quality of maintenance of the containers, and other factors.

     Residual Value of Containers. The ultimate cash return of the Registrant’s investment in its containers will depend in part on the residual value of the containers at the point at which CCC determines that it is in the best interest of the Registrant to sell the containers. The amount realized on the sale of the containers will be substantially less than the price that the Registrant paid for the containers. Generally, used containers are sold in the non-maritime secondary market for use as temporary or permanent storage facilities. To a lesser extent, such containers are sold to shipping companies and container leasing companies for use in the maritime market. The demand for used containers depends on a variety of factors including the location of the container at the time of disposition, foreign currency exchange rates, and the factors discussed above that affect the market for marine cargo containers. One factor affecting the residual value of the containers will be the quality of maintenance provided by the Leasing Company and the sub-lessees of the Registrant’s containers. There can be no assurance that CCC will be able to arrange, on behalf of the Registrant, for adequate maintenance of the Registrant’s containers throughout their economically useful lives. The containers’ residual value will also depend upon factors beyond the control of the Registrant, CCC, the Leasing Company, or the container lessees, such as the cost of new containers, the quantity of used containers being supplied to the secondary market, technological advances in container construction and in techniques of ocean transportation, and developments in world trade.

     Competition. The Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, will be in competition with several large international container leasing companies and numerous smaller leasing companies. Since 1997, the industry has witnessed significant consolidation. As of mid-2003, five leasing companies, each of which operates a fleet of approximately one million TEU, controlled approximately 70% of the worldwide leased container fleet. While the container leasing market is highly competitive, the large container leasing companies as a group might be able to exploit their greater financial resources to maintain or enhance their market share at the expense of the competitors such as the Registrant and Leasing Company, especially in any economic downturn.

     Defaults by Lessees. The default by a sub-lessee under a lease with the Leasing Company may cause the Registrant’s containers to be returned at a time when the Leasing Company may be unable to arrange for the re-leasing or sale of such containers. In such event, the Registrant would lose anticipated revenues, incur additional operating expenses, and, consequently, may be unable to recover its investment in such containers. In addition, because the Registrant’s containers will be leased outside of the United States, repossession of containers from sub-lessees who may default under a lease could prove difficult.

     Environmental Liability Risks. Under state and Federal laws of the United States, and under the laws of certain other nations, the owner of a container may be liable for environmental damage and/or cleanup costs and/or other sums in the event of actual or threatened discharge or other contamination by material in a container. This liability may be imposed on a container owner, such as the Registrant, even if the owner is not at fault. It is not possible to predict the amount of liability. The Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, intends, subject to availability and prevailing market conditions, to obtain insurance against these risks on such terms and in such amounts as CCC and the Leasing Company deems reasonable. In addition, subject to availability and applicable insurance and container industry market conditions, the Leasing Company intends to require sub-lessees of the Registrant’s containers to obtain insurance which protects against these risks and further to compel lessees to indemnify and defend the Registrant in the case of an occurrence giving rise to possible liability under applicable environmental laws. There can, however, be no guarantee that insurance will be available to fully protect against environmental risk, or that CCC and the Leasing Company will be able to allocate the risk of environmental damage to lessees of the Registrant’s containers.

     Reliance Upon CCC and the Leasing Company. The Registrant’s operations are dependent upon the ability of CCC, and its affiliate, the Leasing Company, to arrange for the leasing, maintenance and eventual sale of containers on behalf of the Registrant. The Registrant’s limited partners have no right to take part in the day-to-day management of the Registrant; all decisions with respect to such management will be made exclusively by CCC.

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     Conflicts of Interest. In managing the Registrant, CCC is subject to conflicts of interest, meaning that it is confronted with decisions whereby it has an economic incentive to place its interests above those of the Registrant. CCC and its affiliates, including the Leasing Company, are in the business of managing containers for third parties, for CCC’s existing partnerships and programs, and for their own account, and will be subject to a conflict of interest in times of low demand for and excess supply of such containers. The Registrant’s Partnership Agreement provides that neither CCC nor its affiliates will be obligated to present any particular investment or leasing opportunity to the Registrant, even if such opportunity is suitable for the Registrant.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     Exchange rate risk: In 2003, over 95% of the Registrant’s revenues were billed and paid in US dollars. The Leasing Company believes that the proportion of US dollar revenues may decrease in future years, reflecting a more diversified customer base and lease portfolio. Approximately 80% of the Registrant’s direct operating expenses in 2003 were incurred and paid in US dollars. Of the remaining costs, approximately 72% are individually small, unpredictable and incurred in various denominations and thus are not suitable for cost effective hedging.

     The Leasing Company may hedge a portion of the expenses that are predictable and are principally in UK pounds sterling. As exchange rates are outside of the control of the Registrant and Leasing Company, there can be no assurance that such fluctuations will not adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

The Partners
IEA Income Fund VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of IEA Income Fund VIII, A California Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statements of operations, partners’ capital, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Partnership at December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

San Francisco, California
February 13, 2004

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Balance Sheets

December 31, 2003 and 2002

                 
    2003
  2002
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents, includes $261,416 in 2003 and $217,434 in 2002 in interest-bearing accounts (note 3)
  $ 293,068     $ 260,667  
Net lease receivables due from Leasing Company (notes 1 and 4)
    7,046       1,199  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current assets
    300,114       261,866  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Container rental equipment, at cost
    2,645,655       3,223,536  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (2,152,409 )     (2,499,889 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net container rental equipment (note 1)
    493,246       723,647  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 793,360     $ 985,513  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Partners’ Capital
               
Partners’ capital (deficit):
               
General partner
  $ (185,339 )   $ (207,375 )
Limited partners (note 8)
    978,699       1,192,888  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total partners’ capital
  $ 793,360     $ 985,513  
 
   
 
     
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Statements of Operations

For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

                         
    2003
  2002
  2001
Net lease revenue (note 6)
  $ 154,332     $ 193,691     $ 396,179  
Other operating income (expenses):
                       
Depreciation (note 1)
    (129,646 )     (336,474 )     (301,378 )
Other general and administrative expenses
    (45,461 )     (46,593 )     (61,727 )
Net gain (loss) on disposal of equipment
    46,580       (14,085 )     (26,793 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    (128,527 )     (397,152 )     (389,898 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income (loss) from operations
    25,805       (203,461 )     6,281  
Other income:
                       
Interest income
    1,173       3,057       14,545  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 26,978     $ (200,404 )   $ 20,826  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Allocation of net income (loss):
                       
General partner
  $ 46,384     $ (2,004 )   $ 114,047  
Limited partners
    (19,406 )     (198,400 )     (93,221 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 26,978     $ (200,404 )   $ 20,826  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Limited partners’ per unit share of net income (loss)
  $ (.90 )   $ (9.23 )   $ (4.34 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Statements of Partners’ Capital

For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

                         
    Limited   General    
    Partners
  Partner
  Total
Balances at January 1, 2001
    2,982,318       (132,192 )     2,850,126  
Net (loss) income
    (93,221 )     114,047       20,826  
Cash distributions
    (1,000,778 )     (125,098 )     (1,125,876 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2001
    1,888,319       (143,243 )     1,745,076  
Net loss
    (198,400 )     (2,004 )     (200,404 )
Cash distributions
    (497,031 )     (62,128 )     (559,159 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2002
    1,192,888       (207,375 )     985,513  
Net income (loss)
    (19,406 )     46,384       26,978  
Cash distributions
    (194,783 )     (24,348 )     (219,131 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2003
  $ 978,699     $ (185,339 )   $ 793,360  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

                         
    2003
  2002
  2001
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 26,978     $ (200,404 )   $ 20,826  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
                       
Depreciation
    129,646       336,474       301,378  
Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment
    (46,580 )     14,085       26,793  
(Increase) decrease in net lease receivables due from Leasing Company
    (27,301 )     4,869       22,045  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total adjustments
    55,765       355,428       350,216  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    82,743       155,024       371,042  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities
                       
Proceeds from sale of container rental equipment
    168,789       336,488       484,617  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Distributions to partners
    (219,131 )     (559,159 )     (1,125,876 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    32,401       (67,647 )     (270,217 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    260,667       328,314       598,531  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 293,068     $ 260,667     $ 328,314  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

(1)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

  (a)   Nature of Operations
 
      IEA Income Fund VIII, A California Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) was organized under the laws of the State of California on August 31, 1987 for the purpose of owning and leasing marine cargo containers worldwide to ocean carriers. To this extent, the Partnership’s operations are subject to the fluctuations of world economic and political conditions. Such factors may affect the pattern and levels of world trade. The Partnership believes that the profitability of, and risks associated with, leases to foreign customers is generally the same as those of leases to domestic customers. The Partnership’s leases generally require all payments to be made in United States currency.
 
      Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”) is the general partner and, with its affiliate Cronos Containers Limited (the “Leasing Company”), manages the business of the Partnership. CCC and the Leasing Company also manage the container leasing business for other partnerships affiliated with CCC. The Partnership shall continue until December 31, 2008, unless terminated sooner upon the occurrence of certain events.
 
      The Partnership commenced operations on January 6, 1988, when the minimum subscription proceeds of $1,000,000 were obtained. The Partnership offered 40,000 units of limited partnership interest at $500 per unit, or $20,000,000. The offering terminated on August 31, 1988, at which time 21,493 limited partnership units had been sold.
 
      The decision to dispose of containers is influenced by various factors including age, condition, suitability for continued leasing as well as the geographical location when disposed. Although the Partnership’s fleet size has been reduced to approximately 20% of its original fleet size, CCC has made the decision to continue the Partnership’s leasing operations and to capitalize on the current, favorable market conditions. Within the next twenty-four months, the Partnership is expected to enter the final phase of its liquidation and wind-up stage of operations by disposing of its remaining fleet and focusing on the collection of its lease receivables, a component of net lease receivables. The Partnership will thereafter undertake a final distribution to its partners, then cancel the Certificate of Limited Partnership, thus terminating and dissolving the Partnership.
 
      [INSERT A TO COME]
 
  (b)   Leasing Company and Leasing Agent Agreement
 
      Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, all authority to administer the business of the Partnership is vested in CCC. A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between CCC and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Partnership. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing and re-leasing the Partnership’s containers to ocean carriers and has full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Partnership, together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing Company and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated without regard to ownership. Since the Leasing Agent Agreement meets the definition of an operating lease in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 13, it is accounted for as a lease under which the Partnership is lessor and the Leasing Company is lessee.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Notes to Financial Statements

      The Leasing Agent Agreement generally provides that the Leasing Company will make payments to the Partnership based upon rentals collected from ocean carriers after deducting direct operating expenses and management fees to CCC. The Leasing Company leases containers to ocean carriers, generally under operating leases which are either master leases or term leases (mostly one to five years). Master leases do not specify the exact number of containers to be leased or the term that each container will remain on hire but allow the ocean carrier to pick up and drop off containers at various locations, and rentals are based upon the number of containers used and the applicable per-diem rate. Accordingly, rentals under master leases are all variable and contingent upon the number of containers used. Most containers are leased to ocean carriers under master leases; leasing agreements with fixed payment terms are not material to the financial statements. Since there are no material minimum lease rentals, no disclosure of minimum lease rentals is provided in these financial statements.
 
  (c)   Concentrations of Credit Risk
 
      The Partnership’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company. See note 3 for further discussion regarding the credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents.
 
      Net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company (see notes 1(b) and 4 for discussion regarding net lease receivables) subject the Partnership to a significant concentration of credit risk. These net lease receivables, representing rentals earned by the Leasing Company, on behalf of the Partnership, from ocean carriers after deducting direct operating expenses and management fees to CCC and the Leasing Company, are remitted by the Leasing Company to the Partnership three to four times per month. The Partnership has historically never incurred a loss associated with the collectibility of unremitted net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company.
 
  (d)   Basis of Accounting
 
      The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting. Net lease revenue is recorded by the Partnership in each period based upon its leasing agent agreement with the Leasing Company. Net lease revenue is generally dependent upon operating lease rentals from operating lease agreements between the Leasing Company and its various lessees, less direct operating expenses and management fees due in respect of the containers specified in each operating lease agreement.
 
  (e)   Use of Estimates
 
      The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), which requires the Partnership to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
      The most significant estimates included within the financial statements are the container rental equipment estimated useful lives and residual values, and the estimate of future cash flows from container rental equipment operations, used to determine the adequacy of the carrying value of container rental equipment in accordance with SFAS No. 144. Considerable judgment is required in estimating future cash flows from container rental equipment operations. Accordingly, the estimates may not be indicative of the amounts that may be realized in future periods. As additional information becomes available in subsequent periods, reserves for the impairment of the container rental equipment carrying values may be necessary based upon changes in market and economic conditions.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Notes to Financial Statements

      The Leasing Agent Agreement generally provides that the Leasing Company will make payments to the Partnership based upon rentals collected from ocean carriers after deducting direct operating expenses and management fees to CCC. The Leasing Company leases containers to ocean carriers, generally under operating leases which are either master leases or term leases (mostly one to five years). Master leases do not specify the exact number of containers to be leased or the term that each container will remain on hire but allow the ocean carrier to pick up and drop off containers at various locations, and rentals are based upon the number of containers used and the applicable per-diem rate. Accordingly, rentals under master leases are all variable and contingent upon the number of containers used. Most containers are leased to ocean carriers under master leases; leasing agreements with fixed payment terms are not material to the financial statements. Since there are no material minimum lease rentals, no disclosure of minimum lease rentals is provided in these financial statements.
 
  (f)   Allocation of Net Income or Loss and Partnership Distributions
 
      Net income or loss has been allocated between the general and limited partners in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.
 
      Actual cash distributions differ from the allocations of net income or loss between the general and limited partners as presented in these financial statements. Partnership distributions are based on “distributable cash” and are paid to the general and limited partners on a quarterly basis, in accordance with the provisions of the Partnership Agreement. Distributions from operations were allocated 95% to the limited partners and 5% to the general partner. Distributions from sales proceeds were allocated 100% to the limited partners. However, if the amount of the limited partners’ capital contributions invested in equipment exceeds the minimum percentage required by the Partnership Agreement, and the limited partners have received cumulative distributions equal to their capital contributions, the general partner’s interest in distributions from operations will be increased by one percentage point for each 1% of the limited partners’ capital contribution invested in equipment in excess of 80%.
 
      In 1994 this threshold was reached, and, accordingly, distributions from distributable cash from operations were allocated 90% to the limited partners and 10% to the general partner. These allocations remained in effect until 1997, at which time the limited partners received from the Partnership aggregate distributions in an amount equal to their adjusted capital contributions plus a 10% cumulative, compounded (daily), annual return on their adjusted capital contributions. Thereafter, all Partnership distributions have been allocated 80% to the limited partners and 20% to the general partner. Cash distributions for the first 10% are charged to partners’ capital. Cash distributions from operations to the general partner in excess of 10% of distributable cash are considered an incentive fee and are recorded as compensation to the general partner. (See Note 7).
 
  (g)   Acquisition Fees
 
      Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, acquisition fees paid to CCC are based on 5% of the equipment purchase price. These fees are capitalized and included in the cost of the rental equipment.
 
  (h)   Container Rental Equipment
 
      Container rental equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method. Depreciation policies are also evaluated to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives. Effective June 1, 2001, the estimated depreciable life was changed from a twelve-year life to a fifteen-year life and the estimated salvage value was changed from 30% to 10% of the original equipment cost. The effect of these changes was an increase to depreciation expense of approximately $117,000 and $185,000 for 2002 and 2001, respectively.
 
      SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” was adopted by the Partnership effective January 1, 2002, without a significant impact on its financial statements. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, container rental equipment is considered to be impaired if the carrying value of the asset exceeds the expected future cash flows from related operations (undiscounted and without interest charges). If impairment is deemed to exist, the assets are written down to fair value. An analysis is prepared each quarter projecting future cash flows from container rental equipment operations. Current and projected utilization rates, per-diem rental rates, direct operating expenses, fleet size and container disposals are the primary variables utilized by the analysis. Additionally, the Partnership evaluates future cash flows and potential impairment by container type rather than for each individual container, and as a result, future losses could result for individual container dispositions due to various factors, including age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as the geographical location of containers when disposed. There were no impairment charges to the carrying value of container rental equipment during 2003, 2002 and 2001.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Notes to Financial Statements

  (i)   Income Taxes
 
      The Partnership is not subject to income taxes, consequently no provision for income taxes has been made. The Partnership files federal and state annual information tax returns, prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Taxable income or loss is reportable by the partners individually.
 
  (j)   Financial Statement Presentation
 
      The Partnership has determined that, for accounting purposes, the Leasing Agent Agreement is a lease, and the receivables, payables, gross revenues and operating expenses attributable to the containers managed by the Leasing Company are, for accounting purposes, those of the Leasing Company and not of the Partnership. Consequently, the Partnership’s balance sheets and statements of operations display the payments to be received by the Partnership from the Leasing Company as the Partnership’s receivables and revenues.
 
  (k)   New Accounting Pronouncements
 
      In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 45 (“FIN 45”), “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees it has issued. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s results of operations and financial condition.
 
      In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Interpretation that clarified and modified FIN 46 (“Revised Interpretations”). FIN 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements (“ARB 51”), to certain variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The Partnership has not entered into any material arrangements with VIEs and does not expect FIN 46 to have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.
 
      In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity” (“SFAS 150”). This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances). Many of those instruments were previously classified as equity. This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of SFAS 150 did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

(2)   Operating Segment

    An operating segment is a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and about which separate financial information is available. Management operates the Partnership’s container fleet as a homogenous unit and has determined that as such it has a single reportable operating segment.

    The Partnership derives revenues from dry cargo containers used by its customers in global trade routes. As of December 31, 2003, the Partnership owned 482 twenty-foot, 454 forty-foot and 28 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers.

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Notes to Financial Statements

    Due to the Partnership’s lack of information regarding the physical location of its fleet of containers when on lease in the global shipping trade, the Partnership believes that it does not possess discernible geographic reporting segments as defined in SFAS No. 131 (“SFAS 131”), “Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.”

    The Partnership is not dependent upon any particular customer or group of customers of the Leasing Company. Only two of those customers accounts for more than 10% each of the Partnership’s revenue. Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (“MSC”) generated approximately 32% or $86,184 of the Partnership’s rental billings in 2003 and APL Company Pte. Ltd. (“APL”) generated approximately 16% or $42,915 of the Partnership’s rental billings in 2003. MSC is a private company located in Switzerland and is ranked as the second largest container liner operator in the world. APL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines. Substantially all of the customers of the Leasing Company are billed and pay in United States dollars. One sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, MSC, generated approximately 16% or $106,161, and 15% or $160,042, of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned during 2002 and 2001, respectively, on behalf of the Partnership.

(3)   Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
    Cash equivalents include money market funds that invest in highly-liquid first-tier securities, such as U.S. Treasury obligations, repurchase agreements secured by U.S. Treasury obligations, and obligations whose principal and interest are backed by the U.S. Government. Cash equivalents are carried at cost which approximates fair value, and at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Partnership has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk.

(4)   Net Lease Receivables Due from Leasing Company
 
    Net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company are determined by deducting direct operating payables and accrued expenses, base management fees payable, and reimbursed administrative expenses payable, and incentive fees payable to CCC and its affiliates from the rental billings earned by the Leasing Company under operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership as well as proceeds earned from container disposals. Net lease receivables at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 were as follows:

                 
    December 31,   December 31,
    2003
  2002
Gross lease receivables
  $ 75,139     $ 93,599  
Less:
               
Direct operating payables and accrued expenses
    45,139       38,617  
Damage protection reserve (note 5)
          965  
Base management fees payable
    2,095       36,092  
Reimbursed administrative expenses
    1,566       1,980  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    10,058       10,548  
Incentive fees
    9,235       4,198  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net lease receivables
  $ 7,046     $ 1,199  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Notes to Financial Statements

(5)   Damage Protection Plan
 
    The Leasing Company offers a repair service to several lessees of the Partnership’s containers, whereby the lessee pays an additional rental fee for the convenience of having the Partnership incur the repair expense for containers damaged while on lease. This fee is recorded as revenue when earned according to the terms of the rental contract. An accrual has been recorded to provide for the estimated costs incurred by this service. This accrual is a component of net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company (see note 4). The Partnership is not responsible in the event repair costs exceed predetermined limits, or for repairs that are required for damages not defined by the damage protection plan agreement.
 
(6)   Net Lease Revenue
 
    Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses, base management and incentive fees and reimbursed administrative expenses to CCC from the rental revenue earned by the Leasing Company under operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership. Net lease revenue for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, was as follows:

                         
    2003
  2002
  2001
Rental revenue
  $ 272,719     $ 378,578     $ 669,669  
Less:
                       
Rental equipment operating expenses
    57,022       85,290       111,710  
Base management fees (note 7)
    11,736       22,421       46,519  
Reimbursed administrative expenses (note 7):
                       
Salaries
    14,246       18,083       23,685  
Other payroll related expenses
    1,534       2,016       2,397  
General and administrative expenses
    4,464       5,750       9,083  
Incentive fees (note 7)
    29,385       51,327       80,096  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net lease revenue
  $ 154,332     $ 193,691     $ 396,179  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

(7)   Compensation to General Partner

    Base management fees are equal to 7% of gross lease revenues attributable to operating leases pursuant to the Partnership Agreement. Reimbursed administrative expenses are equal to the costs expended by CCC and its affiliates for services necessary for the prudent operation of the Partnership pursuant to the Partnership Agreement. Incentive management fees are equal to 10% of cash distributions from operations and sales proceeds after the limited partners receive aggregate distributions in an amount equal to their adjusted capital contributions plus a 10% cumulative, compounded (daily) annual return on their adjusted capital contributions pursuant to the Partnership Agreement. The following compensation was paid or will be paid by the Partnership to CCC:

                         
    2003
  2002
  2001
Base management fees
  $ 11,736     $ 22,421     $ 46,519  
Reimbursed administrative expenses
    20,244       25,849       35,165  
Incentive fees
    29,385       51,327       80,096  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 61,365     $ 99,597     $ 161,780  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

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IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
A California Limited Partnership

Notes to Financial Statements

(8)   Limited Partners’ Capital

    Cash distributions made to the limited partners during 2003, 2002 and 2001 included distributions of proceeds from equipment sales in the amount of $127,617, $315,682 and $510,469, respectively. This distribution, as well as cash distributed from operations, are used in determining “Adjusted Capital Contributions” as defined by the Partnership Agreement.
 
    The limited partners’ per unit share of capital at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 was $46, $56 and $88, respectively. This is calculated by dividing the limited partners’ capital at the end of each year by 21,493, the total number of limited partnership units.

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Table of Contents

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     Inapplicable.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

     The principal executive and principal financial officers of CCC have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures of the Registrant as of the end of the period covered by this report. As used herein, the term “disclosure controls and procedures” has the meaning given to the term by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and includes the controls and other procedures of the Registrant that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive and principal financial officers of CCC have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and were effective such that the information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms applicable to the preparation of this report and is accumulated and communicated to CCC’s management, including CCC’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

     There have been no significant changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Registrant’s internal controls subsequent to the evaluation described above conducted by CCC’s principal executive and financial officers.

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PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

     The Registrant, as such, has no officers or directors, but is managed by CCC, the general partner. The officers and directors of CCC at February 29, 2004, are as follows:

     
Name
  Office
Dennis J. Tietz
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
John Kallas
  Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
Elinor A. Wexler
  Vice President/Administration, Secretary and Director
John M. Foy
  Director

     Dennis J. Tietz Mr. Tietz, 51, as President and Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the general management of CCC. Mr. Tietz was appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Cronos Group, indirect corporate parent of CCC, in December 1998 and elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in March 1999. Mr. Tietz is also President and a director of Cronos Securities Corp. From 1986 until August 1992, Mr. Tietz was responsible for the organization, marketing and after-market support of CCC’s investment programs. Mr. Tietz was a regional manager for CCC, responsible for various container leasing activities in the U.S. and Europe from 1981 to 1986. Prior to joining CCC in December 1981, Mr. Tietz was employed by Trans Ocean Leasing Corporation as Regional Manager based in Houston, with responsibility for all leasing and operational activities in the U.S. Gulf.

     Mr. Tietz holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University and is a Registered Securities Principal with the NASD.

     John Kallas Mr. Kallas, 41, was elected Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of CCC in November, 2000. Mr. Kallas also joined the Board of Directors of CCC in November, 2000. Mr. Kallas has been employed by CCC since 1989, and is responsible for managed container investment programs, treasury, and CCC’s financial operations. Mr. Kallas has held various accounting positions since joining Cronos including Controller, Director of Accounting and Corporate Accounting Manager. From 1985 to 1989, Mr. Kallas was an accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick, San Francisco.

     Mr. Kallas holds a Masters degree in Finance and Business Administration from St. Mary’s College, a B.S. degree in Business Administration/Accounting from the University of San Francisco and is a certified public accountant.

     Elinor A. Wexler Ms. Wexler, 55, was elected Vice President - Administration and Secretary of CCC in August 1992. Ms. Wexler joined the Board of Directors of CCC in June 1997. Ms. Wexler has been employed by CCC since 1987, and is responsible for investor services, compliance and securities registration. From 1983 to 1987, Ms. Wexler was Manager of Investor Services for The Robert A. McNeil Corporation, a real estate syndication company, in San Mateo, California. From 1971 to 1983, Ms. Wexler held various positions, including securities trader and international research editor, with Nikko Securities Co., International, based in San Francisco.

     Ms. Wexler attended the University of Oregon, Portland State University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Ms. Wexler is also Vice President and Secretary of Cronos Securities Corp. and a Registered Principal with the NASD.

     John M. Foy Mr. Foy, 58, was elected to the Board of Directors of CCC in April 1999. See key management personnel of the Leasing Company for further information.

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     The key management personnel of the Leasing Company and its affiliates at February 29, 2004, were as follows:

     
Name
  Title
Peter J. Younger
  Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
John M. Foy
  Senior Vice President/Americas
Nico Sciacovelli
  Senior Vice President/Europe, Middle East and Africa
John C. Kirby
  Senior Vice President/Operations

     Peter J. Younger Mr. Younger, 47, was elected to the Board of Directors of The Cronos Group on January 13, 2000. Mr. Younger will serve as a director until the 2004 annual meeting and his successor is elected and takes office. Mr. Younger was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of The Cronos Group on August 4, 2000, and its Chief Financial Officer in March 1997. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Younger served as Vice President of Finance for the Leasing Company, located in the UK. From 1987 to 1991 Mr. Younger served as Vice President and Controller for CCC in San Francisco. Prior to 1987, Mr. Younger was a certified public accountant and a principal with the accounting firm of Johnson, Glaze and Co. in Salem, Oregon. Mr. Younger holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Western Baptist College, Salem, Oregon.

     John M. Foy Mr. Foy, 58, is directly responsible for the Leasing Company’s lease marketing and operations in North America, Central America, and South America, and is based in San Francisco. From 1985 to 1993, Mr. Foy was Vice President/Pacific with responsibility for dry cargo container lease marketing and operations in the Pacific Basin. From 1977 to 1985 Mr. Foy was Vice President of Marketing for Nautilus Leasing Services in San Francisco with responsibility for worldwide leasing activities. From 1974 to 1977, Mr. Foy was Regional Manager for Flexi-Van Leasing, a container lessor, with responsibility for container leasing activities in the Western United States. Mr. Foy holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from University of the Pacific, and a Bachelor of Foreign Trade from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management.

     Nico Sciacovelli Mr. Sciacovelli, 54, was elected Senior Vice President - Europe, Middle East and Africa in June 1997. Mr. Sciacovelli is directly responsible for the Leasing Company’s lease marketing and operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and is based in Italy. Since joining Cronos in 1983, Mr. Sciacovelli served as Area Director and Area Manager for Southern Europe. Prior to joining Cronos, Mr. Sciacovelli was a Sales Manager at Interpool Ltd.

     John C. Kirby Mr. Kirby, 50, is responsible for container purchasing, contract and billing administration, container repairs and leasing-related systems, and is based in the United Kingdom. Mr. Kirby joined CCC in 1985 as European Technical Manager and advanced to Director of European Operations in 1986, a position he held with CCC, and later the Leasing Company, until his promotion to Senior Vice President/Operations of the Leasing Company in 1992. From 1982 to 1985, Mr. Kirby was employed by CLOU Containers, a container leasing company, as Technical Manager based in Hamburg, Germany. Mr. Kirby acquired a professional engineering qualification from the Mid-Essex Technical College in England.

Audit Committee

     The Registrant is governed by CCC pursuant to the terms and provisions of its Partnership Agreement. The business of CCC, in turn, is supervised by its board of directors, consisting of Dennis J. Tietz, John Kallas, Elinor A. Wexler and John M. Foy. All of the members of CCC’s board of directors are officers of CCC and therefore are not “independent” as defined by the rules of the SEC. The board of directors of CCC oversees the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Registrant and the audits of the financial statements of the Registrant.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

     The board of directors of CCC has determined that John Kallas, a member of CCC’s board, qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of the rules of the SEC. CCC’s board has made this judgment by reason of Mr. Kallas’ experience and training, described above in Mr. Kallas’ biography, under the listing of officers and directors of CCC. Because Mr. Kallas is an officer of CCC, he is not considered “independent” within the meaning of the rules of the SEC.

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Code of Ethics

     CCC has adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to the senior officers of CCC, including the officers identified above. The Code is designed to promote honest and ethical conduct by such officers in their management of the business of CCC, including its activities as general partner of the Registrant; the full and fair disclosure in the reports and documents CCC prepares for and on behalf of the Registrant; and compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations. The Code provides a mechanism for the reporting of violations of the Code and measures to enforce adherence to the Code. A copy of the Code may be requested, without charge, from:

 
Cronos Capital Corp.
The General Partner
Attention: Corporate Secretary
One Front Street, Suite 925
San Francisco, CA 94111
(800) 821-7035
ir@cronos.com

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     The Registrant has followed the practice of reporting acquisitions and dispositions of the Registrant’s units of limited partnership interests by CCC, its general partner. As CCC did not acquire or dispose of any of the Registrant’s units of limited partnership interests during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, no reports of beneficial ownership under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, were filed with the SEC.

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Item 11. Executive Compensation

     The Registrant pays a management fee and will reimburse the general partner for various administrative expenses.

     Partnership distributions are based on “distributable cash” and are paid to the general and limited partners on a quarterly basis, in accordance with the provisions of the Partnership Agreement. Distributions from operations were allocated 95% to the limited partners and 5% to the general partner. Distributions from sales proceeds were allocated 100% to the limited partners. However, if the amount of the limited partners’ capital contributions invested in equipment exceeds the minimum percentage required by the Partnership Agreement, and the limited partners have received cumulative distributions equal to their capital contributions, the general partner’s interest in distributions from operations will be increased by one percentage point for each 1% of the limited partners’ capital contribution invested in equipment in excess of 80%.

     In 1994 this threshold was reached, and, accordingly, distributions from distributable cash from operations were allocated 90% to the limited partners and 10% to the general partner. These allocations remained in effect until 1997, at which time the limited partners received from the Partnership aggregate distributions in an amount equal to their adjusted capital contributions plus a 10% cumulative, compounded (daily), annual return on their adjusted capital contributions. Thereafter, all Partnership distributions have been allocated 80% to the limited partners and 20% to the general partner. Cash distributions for the first 10% are charged to partners’ capital. Cash distributions from operations to the general partner in excess of 10% of distributable cash are considered an incentive fee and are recorded as compensation to the general partner

     The Registrant does not pay or reimburse CCC and its affiliates for any remuneration payable by them to their executive officers, directors or any other controlling persons. However, the Registrant does reimburse the general partner for certain services pursuant to the Partnership Agreement. These services include but are not limited to (i) salaries and related salary expenses for services which could be performed directly for the Registrant by independent parties, such as legal, accounting, transfer agent, data processing, operations, communications, duplicating and other such services; and, (ii) performing administrative services necessary to the prudent operations of the Registrant.

     The following table sets forth the fees the Registrant paid (on a cash basis) to CCC for the fiscal year 2003.

                 
            Cash Fees and
    Name
  Description
  Distributions
1)
  CCC   Base management fees — equal to 7% of gross lease revenues attributable to operating leases pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Limited Partnership Agreement   $ 45,734  
2)
  CCC   Reimbursed administrative expenses - equal to the costs expended by CCC and its affiliates for services necessary to the prudent operation of the Registrant pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Limited Partnership Agreement   $ 20,659  
3)
  CCC   Interest in Fund — 5% of distributions of distributable cash for any quarter pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Limited Partnership Agreement   $ 24,348  
4)
  CCC   Incentive Management Fee — 10% of cash distributed from operations and sales proceeds after a 10% cumulative, compounded (daily), annual return to the Limited Partners on their adjusted capital contributions pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Limited Partnership Agreement   $ 24,348  

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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

     (a) Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

     There is no person or “group” of persons known to the management of CCC to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding units of limited partnership interests of the Registrant.

     (b) Security Ownership of Management

     The Registrant has no directors or officers. It is managed by CCC. Ownership of units of limited partnership interests of the Registrant by CCC, its officers and/or director of CCC is as follows:

                 
    Number   Percent of
Name of Beneficial Owner
  of Units
  All Units
Dennis J. Tietz
    9.0       0.04 %
Elinor Wexler
    15.0       0.07 %
Cronos Capital Corp.
    181.2       0.84 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Officers, Directors and CCC as a Group
    205.2       0.95 %
 
   
 
     
 
 

     (c) Changes in Control

     Inapplicable.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     (a) Transactions with Management and Others

     The Registrant’s only transactions with management and other related parties during 2003 were limited to those fees paid or amounts committed to be paid (on an annual basis) to CCC, the general partner. See Item 11, “Executive Compensation,” herein.

     (b) Certain Business Relationships

     Inapplicable.

     (c) Indebtedness of Management

     Inapplicable.

     (d) Transactions with Promoters

     Inapplicable.

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Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     CCC, on behalf of the Registrant, has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Registrant’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. CCC’s board of directors has the authority to pre-approve audit related and non-audit services on behalf of the Registrant, that are not prohibited by law, to be performed by the Registrant’s independent auditors.

Audit Fees

     Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements and review of its quarterly financial statements and audit services provided in connection with its statutory or regulatory filings. The Registrant incurred fees of $13,221 and $12,878 during the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, for these audit services.

Audit-Related Fees

     The Registrant did not incur audit-related fees during the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and 2002. Typically, audit-related fees, if incurred, would consist of fees for accounting consultations and other attestation services.

Tax Fees

     The Registrant did not incur tax fees during the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and 2002. Typically, tax fees, if incurred, would consist of fees for compliance services, tax advice and tax planning.

All Other Fees

     The Registrant did not incur any other fees for services provided by its independent auditor during the fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and 2002.

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

             
        Page
(a)1.  
Financial Statements
       
   
Independent Auditors’ Report
    21  
(a)2.  
The following financial statements of the Registrant are included in Part II, Item 8:
       
   
Balance Sheets – as of December 31, 2003 and 2002
    22  
   
Statements of Operations - for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001
    23  
   
Statements of Partners’ Capital – for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001
    24  
   
Statements of Cash Flows – for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001
    25  
   
Notes to Financial Statements
    26  

     All schedules are omitted as the information is not required or the information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

     (a)3. Exhibits

         
Exhibit        
No.
  Description
  Method of Filing
3(a)
  Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and restated as of October 13, 1987   *
 
       
3(b)
  Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant   **
 
       
31.1
  Rule 13a-14 Certification   Filed with this document
 
       
31.2
  Rule 13a-14 Certification   Filed with this document
 
       
32   
  Section 1350 Certifications   Filed with this document
      ***

     (b) Reports on Form 8-K

     No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant during the quarter ended December 31, 2003.


*   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit “A” to the Prospectus of the Registrant dated October 13, 1987, included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-16984)
 
**   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-16984)
 
***   This certification, required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, other than as required by Section 906, is not to be deemed “filed” with the Commission or subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of said Act.

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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

         
  IEA INCOME FUND VIII,
  A California Limited Partnership
 
       
  By   Cronos Capital Corp.
      The General Partner

  By   /s/ Dennis J. Tietz
     
 
      Dennis J. Tietz
      President and Director of Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”)
      Principal Executive Officer of CCC

Date: March 26, 2004

     Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Cronos Capital Corp., the managing general partner of the Registrant, in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

         
Signature   Title   Date
 
       
/s/ Dennis J. Tietz
Dennis J. Tietz
  President and Director of
Cronos Capital Corp.
(“CCC”) (Principal Executive
Officer of CCC)
  March 26, 2004
 
       
/s/ John Kallas

John Kallas
  Chief Financial Officer and
Director of
Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”)
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer of CCC)
  March 26, 2004
 
       
/s/ Elinor A. Wexler
Elinor A. Wexler
  Vice President-Administration,
Secretary and Director of
Cronos Capital Corp.
  March 26, 2004

Supplemental Information

     The Registrant’s annual report will be furnished to its limited partners on or about April 30, 2004. Copies of the annual report will be concurrently furnished to the Commission for information purposes only, and shall not be deemed to be filed with the Commission.

 


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

         
Exhibit        
No.
  Description
  Method of Filing
3(a)
  Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and restated as of October 13, 1987   *
 
       
3(b)
  Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant   **
 
       
31.1
  Rule 13a-14 Certification   Filed with this document
 
       
31.2
  Rule 13a-14 Certification   Filed with this document
 
       
32   
  Section 1350 Certifications   Filed with this document
      ***


*   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit “A” to the Prospectus of the Registrant dated October 13, 1987, included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-16984)
 
**   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-16984)
 
***   This certification, required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, other than as required by Section 906, is not to be deemed “filed” with the Commission or subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of said Act.